On the Strength and Failure Mode of Cracked Bolted Joint of Polymeric Composite

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates the effect of crack angle and crack length on the mechanical behavior and mode of failure of bolted composites joints [0/90]4S. The experimental program consists of twenty one groups with constant W/D, E/D, different angles of crack (0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°) and length of crack (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm). The experimental results showed that, for uncracked bolted joint (Group 1) the mode is a combination between bearings and shearing out failures. Although the presence of crack (crack length up to 5 mm) did not change the mode of failure, it decreased the ultimate load and the stiffness of the joint. This may be attributed to the reduction in the net section area resisting the load of the pin. In the case of crack length of 6 mm, the mode changed to a combination between bearing and tensile failures.